Behind the Lens

A bicycle, hiking boots, and a camera. Those three things have been a big part of my off season the last couple of months. I’ve always enjoyed taking photos but this year I stepped it up and began using one of those fancy cameras with the big lenses and overwhelming amount of different settings. Whether it’s a ride or hike, I am pulling my camera, phone, or GoPro out to snap a quick picture.

Delta Roads with the team.

After hanging up the bike earlier for some rest this off season, I threw on my hiking boots and hit the trails with my camera (and a few Fig Bars!). I love the outdoors. Being out and about on the trails listening to a rushing river or the sound of rustling leaves is one of the most relaxing things out there. My hikes usually include way too many photo stops. I’ve always loved taking pictures but photography has really become a big interest of mine since I began taking photos for social media at work earlier this year. There are so many different angles, settings, colors, and lighting to choose from when it comes to taking a photo. You have the idea in your mind, the camera is your tool to transfer that idea into an image. Long exposure photos of either streams or waterfalls are probably one of my favorite things to shoot on hikes. I also really enjoy shooting sunsets as well as the moments shortly after the sun has gone down. The colors in the sky are constantly changing, especially when there are some clouds on the horizon.

Long exposure shot of a stream on one of my hikes

Long exposure over the lake shortly after sundown

On the bike, you’re on the move and scenery and lighting is always changing. My tools of choice during rides are either my phone or GoPro, as the camera is a bit bulky to bring along for the journey. They’re easy to work with and don’t require messing with the settings. I always try to look for interesting backdrops. It may be an angle that shows the sun’s rays bursting out of the corner of the image or a forest full of vibrant trees. The roads less travelled are usually where you’ll find some of the most beautiful sights. That’s definitely lead to me doing a whole lot more exploring on the bike. Some of the best times of year for ride photos are spring and fall when trees and fields are bright and colorful.

Empty roads through a desolate forest scarred from wildfires

One of my favorite rides this fall was an incredibly short 8 mile jaunt on the night of the supermoon. I loaded my backpack up with my camera and gear and embarked to find a place to capture the image I was looking for. I found a spot where I could watch as it rose above Folsom Lake.

The supermoon rising above Folsom Lake

Another memorable day was when teammate, Jon Penaloza (or JOOSE as we like to call him), and I went on a gravel adventure with some friends through some “primitive” roads in the hills Placer County. At the bottom of this descent was an incredibly old bridge that made for a great photo op as did the gravel roads carving their way up through the canyon.

The Yankee Jims Bridge

Thanks for the read and hope you enjoyed the photos! For more shots of rides and hikes, feel free to take a look at my Instagram page.